He began his Vermont State University (VTSU) Castleton career by making history and ended it just the same.
In 2009 Dan Senif suited up as an offensive lineman on the first NCAA varsity football team in Castleton history, and with each season, he brought a new level of leadership to build the young program into a powerhouse by the time he turned his tassel in 2013.
“Participating in collegiate athletics has been a dream of mine since Pop Warner football and VTSU Castleton afforded me that opportunity,” said the three-time Eastern Collegiate Football Conference All-Academic.
According to Senif, his student-athlete experience was highlighted by the support and drive for the success he felt came from the university.
“The coaching staffs that we had were unparalleled,” he said. “The first day of training camp freshman year, we were told that by the time we were seniors, we would be playing for an ECFC Championship, and we did just that.”
Furthermore, Senif said the modern Glenbrook Gym, Fitness Center, and Spartan Stadium for training and competing was a substantial factor in his success.
“The quality of the VTSU Castleton facilities are far beyond what is expected of Division III athletic facilities and made for a top-notch experience,” he said.
Beyond the weight room, Senif was also active in volunteer and community engagement activities. In 2012, along with 19 other student-athletes, he helped set the Guinness Book of World Records time for the longest dodgeball marathon ever played, which exceeded 41 consecutive hours. Their efforts raised nearly $8,000 for underprivileged youth interested in sports through Right to Play.
As an athletic training major, he said he had the advantage of garnering the full VTSU Castleton athletics experience with the opportunity to work with a variety of sports over his four years of study.
“That brought me closer to a lot of athletes and helped deepen my appreciation for collegiate athletics,” Senif said.
After graduation from VTSU Castleton, Senif continued his education at Temple University, where he earned his Master’s of Science in Kinesiology. In 2015 he crossed the country to complete an advanced athletic training fellowship with Stanford University. Today he resides in Hamilton, NY as an assistant athletic trainer for Colgate University and works specifically with the women’s soccer and lacrosse programs.
“Vermont State Castleton has a great alumni network that has allowed me to connect with people all over the country,” he said.
